The Karnataka High Court has held Bangalore Turf Club Limited (BTCL), Mysore Race Club Limited (MRCL), The Institution of Engineer (India) Karnataka State and Ladies Club as public authorities which come under the Right to Information (RTI) Act-2005.
The court dismissed the companies petitions challenging the orders passed in 2013 and 2015 by the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC).
A single bench of Justice P B Bajanthri refused to interfere with the order passed by the KIC against the companies. He said, “State Largesse has been extended to the petitioners under lease deeds. Therefore, they are holding these lands on behalf of the people and are accountable to the people”. Petitioners do fall under the definition of ‘public authority’ under Act 2005, he added.